Car history detective work!
Discussion
It's a bit geeky but I've just been through all the receipts and service history, and MOT database, of my MX5 and compiled a bit of a history portfolio.
Seems like it was bought first as a little runabout in Surrey, only doing 7000 miles in its first 4 years. Then there's a year gap in the history and it resurfaces in 2000 with 22k, still in Surrey. Couple more years of more consistent 8k a year use, all Mazda main dealer until 50k miles. 2007-2007 it suddenly does 14k, and is taken to Kwik Fit literally a few miles from where I live, with advisories on rusty outer sills. 2009 it disappears and returns in 2010 with only 300 miles extra on it, but sills obviously repaired. Then moves to biggin Hill to the chap I bought it from.
This ties in with what the seller told me, that it was laid up as a project car. It also seems it had a full paint job as well as the sills repaired in 2009, as another piece of the puzzle was a chap who came up to me at last years MX5OC meet in Kent who used to own the car, and only sold it on because it was going pink. I've found a guy on Planet MX5 who also used to own it, as he included the reg in a forum post.
It's quite interesting to trace everything, seems it was quite well looked after (but not by enthusiasts or they wouldn't have let the sills rot!) for at least 10 years, then perhaps a bit of neglect with the Kwik Fit MOTs!? Then a year off the map where someone started to refurb it, I'm guessing this is the guy who fitted the wrong head to it. You twit! It's new lease of life starts today with a new engine!
Anyone else been geeky enough to do any car genealogy!?
Seems like it was bought first as a little runabout in Surrey, only doing 7000 miles in its first 4 years. Then there's a year gap in the history and it resurfaces in 2000 with 22k, still in Surrey. Couple more years of more consistent 8k a year use, all Mazda main dealer until 50k miles. 2007-2007 it suddenly does 14k, and is taken to Kwik Fit literally a few miles from where I live, with advisories on rusty outer sills. 2009 it disappears and returns in 2010 with only 300 miles extra on it, but sills obviously repaired. Then moves to biggin Hill to the chap I bought it from.
This ties in with what the seller told me, that it was laid up as a project car. It also seems it had a full paint job as well as the sills repaired in 2009, as another piece of the puzzle was a chap who came up to me at last years MX5OC meet in Kent who used to own the car, and only sold it on because it was going pink. I've found a guy on Planet MX5 who also used to own it, as he included the reg in a forum post.
It's quite interesting to trace everything, seems it was quite well looked after (but not by enthusiasts or they wouldn't have let the sills rot!) for at least 10 years, then perhaps a bit of neglect with the Kwik Fit MOTs!? Then a year off the map where someone started to refurb it, I'm guessing this is the guy who fitted the wrong head to it. You twit! It's new lease of life starts today with a new engine!
Anyone else been geeky enough to do any car genealogy!?
(car not the pig) vrsmxtb said:
DanDC5 said:
I can't see how a car isn't looked after because it has it's MOT at Kwik Fit?
Thinking about it, actually it might be a good thing. It might have had new discs and pads and shocks all round for no good reason! 
I have all the history of my current car (MX5) since import, but none of it is very interesting..
Have to admit that I compiled a detailed word document for a few previous cars, which collated every bit of history, receipt and anything of note in chronological order with date, location, mileage and cost, as well as photos where available.
Took some time, it was before I had kids so had plenty, and was very satisfying - it also helped immensely when selling the cars, which were generally fairly specialist.
Took some time, it was before I had kids so had plenty, and was very satisfying - it also helped immensely when selling the cars, which were generally fairly specialist.
With BigRod on here we found out a fair bit of history on this "barn fire damaged track car"
Sorry it's a link to another forum
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=re...
I won't repeat it all on here as a lot of the posts were as it happens but it's quite a good read if you have some time to kill
Sorry it's a link to another forum
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=re...
I won't repeat it all on here as a lot of the posts were as it happens but it's quite a good read if you have some time to kill
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